Boyd has not enjoyed many starts in Old Firm matches
Kris Boyd has urged manager Walter Smith to give him the opportunity to fire Rangers to victory over Celtic.
The striker has scored 23 goals in 26 games this season but has been overlooked in previous key matches.
Since joining Rangers three years ago, Boyd has started just four of 12 Old Firm derbies, netting only once.
"As a footballer, you want to play on the biggest stage possible and it doesn't get any bigger than an Old Firm game," he told the club website.
Boyd did not feature when Rangers won 4-2 at Celtic Park in August and Smith may be tempted to sacrifice one of his regular front two for Sunday's trip across Glasgow in favour of bolstering his midfield.
Should that happen, history favours Kenny Miller being handed the lone striker's berth against his former club.
We don't need to be scared of anything and I think the only thing in our minds will be getting a victory
Kris Boyd
Boyd acknowledges his record against Celtic is poor - especially away from home - but he is desperate to put that right this weekend.
"It's true that I have not had much joy at Parkhead over the years," he admitted.
"In fact, the only time I have scored there was when I got a couple against Faroe Islands with Scotland and even that was a few years ago.
"There is no doubt I want to be involved in the game this weekend. But it's up to the manager - he's the one that will decide that.
"I started the match at Ibrox in December, which gave me a taste of it again but I will be keeping my fingers crossed I can be involved on Sunday and help the team."
That match at the end of last year saw Celtic run out 1-0 winners after Boyd missed a one-on-one opportunity with goalkeeper Artur Boruc.
"I had a big chance after half-time but, unfortunately, it didn't go in," the striker added.
"I should have scored but there is not a lot you can do when the ball goes up the other end and someone smashes home a great goal.
"If I had beaten Boruc, I don't think there would have been any way back for them.
"These things happened and we moved on - that's all you can do - but it still hurt at the time."
The result put Celtic seven points clear at the top of the Scottish Premier League but Rangers have since hit back to cut the deficit to two.
"We have done well to get back in the race," said Boyd, who claimed two goals in a bounce game with Hamilton on Wednesday.
"If we can now go above them this weekend, that would be massive, but we know how difficult that will be.
"Celtic are strong at home and not many teams go there and take three points.
"But we did it earlier in the season and we have to be confident of doing that again.
"We don't need to be scared of anything and I think the only thing in our minds will be getting a victory."
Miller, who missed Scotland's get-together this week with a hamstring problem, also featured in the training ground friendly with Hamilton, along with Steven Naismith and Maurice Edu.
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